...they were engaged and enthralled throughout, learning so much about what it was like to be a miner. They spent the day: exploring the exhibitions; pondering what the miners did at the Pithead baths; learning about the importance of a Davy lamp; stroking the pit ponies; and, most importantly, exploring the coal mine, 180m below ground level. The class very sensibly wore their hard hats and were in charge of their own torches. They, very bravely, went down the mine shaft and listened to their tour guide tell them all about working underground. The children even crawled through tunnels that miners would have used in the early 1900s. The tour guides, who were ex miners themselves, independently commented on how our children were an absolute credit to us. They were amazing and we were very proud of them. A thoroughly good day was had by all.